Swann on song for Northants

Graeme Swann's 56 gave relegated Northamptonshire a rare four-wicket win over Nottinghamshire at Wantage Road, with almost eight overs to spare in the Norwich Union League Division One.

Kevin Pietersen hit 58 out of Nottinghamshire's 182-all out, with Steelbacks pace bowlers John Blain and Paul Taylor each taking three wickets.

Durham fluffed their chance to go level on points with Glamorgan at the top of Division Two, falling to a three-wicket defeat against lowly Essex. Paul Grayson took three for 23, as a series of Durham batsmen got set but failed to go on in a total of 178-all out.

Rain had the final say at New Road, where Glamorgan were prevented from consolidating their position at the top of the table after racking up 254 for six from 43 overs against third-placed Worcestershire Royals.

Sussex Sharks kept alive their slim hopes of promotion with an eight-wicket victory over Middlesex Crusaders at Richmond. Mark Davis took four for 24 as Middlesex missed their score and totalled only 109 in 37.1 overs. Seamer Tim Bloomfield took two Sussex wickets for 16, but could not stop them charging to victory with almost 17 overs to spare.

* In Colombo, Sri Lanka sealed their first Test series win over India in 16 years after defeating the tourists by an innings and 77 runs in the third Test, after an Indian collapse on the final morning. India had fought back to level the series at 1-1 last weekend.